MEMORY VERSE: “ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16.
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 6:16-20.
INTRODUCTION
In the Old Testament, the temple of God was a physical structure in Jerusalem, a sacred place where God’s presence dwelled. The Greek word for “temple” is ‘naos’ meaning the dwelling place of God. in the New Testament. however the temple is no longer a building but the physical body of every believer. When we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, our body becomes His temple, and our heart becomes His throne 1 Corinthians 3:16.
OUTLINE
- THE BELIEVER’S BODY
- REASONS BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S TEMPLE
1. THE BELIEVER’S BODY
The Apostle Paul profoundly describes the Church as the body of Christ and a sacred temple where God dwells among His people. He calls the Church “a holy temple in the Lord,” emphasizing its unity as a spiritual family and dwelling place for God’s presence Ephesians 2:19-22
As believers, we are not just part of this collective temple but are individual temples of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us, “ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” 1 Corinthians 6:19. He warns that defiling God’s temple invites His judgment 1 Corinthians 3:17.
We become God’s temple through the experience of spiritual rebirth, as His Spirit comes to dwell within us John 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 6:16. This transformation makes us new creations in Christ’ called to glorify God both in body and spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
It is a dangerous deception to believe that God only cares about our hearts while our bodies are inconsequential. Such thinking leads to practices that dishonour the temple God has made sacred. Our lives: body, soul, and spirit, must reflect His holiness, as His presence within us calls for reverence and obedience.
2. REASONS BELIEVERS ARE GOD’S TEMPLE
Here are some reasons believers are God’s temple:
a. God’s spirit dwells in believers thus, making their bodies a sacred dwelling place 1 Corinthians 3:16.
b. Believers are temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased by Christ’s sacrifice 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
c. God lives among His people, making them His temple and dwelling 2 Corinthians 6:16.
d. Like living stones, believers are built into a spiritual house where God’s Spirit resides Ephesians 2:22.
e. As God’s temple, believers serve as a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ 1 Peter 2:5.
f. Being God’s temple calls believers to live holy lives, reflecting God’s holiness 1 Corinthians 3:17.
g. As God’s dwelling place, believers are transformed into His likeness, with His glory revealed through them 2 Corinthians 3:18.
These points emphasize the profound identity and responsibility of believers as God’s temple, highlighting the sacred connection between God and His people.
CONCLUSION
Being the temple of God is not merely a symbolic idea; it is a profound reality that demands we live in purity, honour, and submission, offering ourselves as vessels for His glory.
FURTHER READING
Sun: Romans 12:1;
Mon: 1 Corinthians 6:13;
Tues: Romans 12:2;
Wed: 1 Timothy 4:8;
Thurs: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5:
Fri: Matthew 10:28;
Sat: Ephesians 2:22